Noise-rock band KEN mode pummeling Red 7 at SXSW 2013.
Credit Mindy Best / Getty Images
Natalie Maines (center) at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas during the SXSW Music Festival. Maines's band included her father, Lloyd Maines (seated left) and Ben Harper (seated right).
Credit Mito Habe-Evans / NPR
Bob Boilen, host of NPR Music's All Songs Considered, interviews The Zombies at SXSW.
Credit Mike Katzif / WNYC
Noise-rock band KEN mode pummeling Red 7 at SXSW 2013.
"If you want to do something, just do it." Words of wisdom from Bob Boilen that sum up day four of South By Southwest for the All Songs Considered gang perfectly. Bob, along with Robin Hilton, Stephen Thompson and Ann Powers were joined by Mike Katzif and Will Butler, both former All Songs interns. Will's journey to Austin was inspired by Amanda Palmer's recent TED Talk.
Ecstatic Cafe Tacvba fans at Alt.Latino's SXSW showcase at Auditorium Shores.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
The percussion-heavy, slightly vaudevillian folk-rock band He's My Brother She's My Sister plays Pelon.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Dramatic, blissful and awash in synths, Lauren Mayberry (left) and Martin Doherty of CHVRCHES play the Fader Fort.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Naked Cowboy's furry cousin from Austin, Texas?
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Fronted by Oscar-winning Argentine composer Gustavo Santaolalla, Bajofondo's music was as cinematic as it was unexpected at Alt.Latino's SXSW showcase.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Bajofondo's Martín Ferrés stretches out his bandoneón as far as he can at Alt.Latino's SXSW showcase.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Music is everywhere on the streets of Austin.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
"It's a living."
Credit Dave Lichterman for KEXP
Without a line of horns or funky rhythm section, Iron and Wine's Sam Beam plays a solo acoustic set KEXP's showcase at Mellow Johnny's.
Credit Dave Lichterman for KEXP
Olafur Arnalds' band circles around him at Mellow Johnny's before a set at the KEXP showcase.
Credit Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW
Underneath a stage shaped like a 62-foot vending machine, LL Cool J plays an outdoor set at SXSW 2013.
Credit Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW
Ice Cube goes hard at the #BoldStage.
Credit Mito Habe-Evans / NPR
"It's your voice," Dave Grohl says at his SXSW keynote speech that began Thursday. "Everyone's blessed with at least that. And who knows how long it will last?"
Credit Jordan Naylor / Getty Images for SXSW
Sans confetti cannons and the giant hamster ball, The Flaming Lips gave an intimate performance of its now-classic album, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, at The Belmont.
Credit Gary Miller / FilmMagic
Dave Grohl gives Stevie Nicks a big smooch at the Sound City showcase at Stubb's BBQ. During the epic-length set, Nicks performed "Landslide" and "Gold Dust Woman" with the band.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Mexican flags, wrestling masks and a legion of ecstatic Café Tacvba fans at Alt.Latino's showcase at Auditorium Shores.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Heavy, angry and hilarious, Molotov pounds Auditorium Shores into submission during a SXSW showcase presented by NPR Music's Alt.Latino.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Latin rock pioneers Café Tacvba show everyone why they're living legends at Alt.Latino's SXSW showcase.
The Flaming Lips on stage at the Belmont in Austin, Texas. The band played its 2002 album, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.
Credit Gary Miller/FilmMagic / Getty Images
Dave Grohl (left) and Stevie Nicks both spoke in front of (separate) large audiences at SXSW during the day on Thursday. Later that night, they performed together in a concert by Grohl's Sound City Players.
Credit Robin Hilton / NPR
All Teal Everything: The Brooklyn band Conveyor play sunny-sounding pop.
Credit Jordan Naylor / Getty Images
The Flaming Lips on stage at the Belmont in Austin, Texas. The band played its 2002 album, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.
The span of South by Southwest is so huge that sometimes the festival can be about the bands you miss as much as the ones you see. After the hectic Thursday on the streets, bars and venues of Austin, Texas, the All Songs Considered crew regrouped to recount the long walks, long lines, tough decisions, missed opportunities and happy accidents of day three.
Karen O led the Yeah Yeah Yeahs through a set at NPR Music's SXSW showcase at Stubb's in Austin, Texas that included songs from the band's new album, Mosquito.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Youth Lagoon, led by keyboard player and singer Trevor Powers, released its second album, Wondrous Bughouse, on March 5. The band played on the indoor stage at Stubb's in Austin, Texas.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Waxahatchee's Katie Crutchfield began her set at the indoor stage at Stubb's by strumming three songs alone on an electric guitar, before being joined by two band mates.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
At the start of his set, Rapper Le1f's blond braids were in a bun, but they soon swung free.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Nick Cave started his set with the Bad Seeds at Stubb's as the sun was going down. He told the crowd before it started that the first song would be a long one, so it would be dark by the time it ended.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Zac Pennington barrels through the Red 7 crowd with Parenthetical Girls' confrontational, often jarring indie-pop.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
With cozy boy/girl vocals over jangly dream-pop, Ex Cops' Amalie Bruun plays The Parish.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
To quote Le1f on Twitter: "LOL @ all u musicians lugging around instruments and heavy metal cases on this plane to sxsw right now HAHA RAPPERS WIN AGAIN."
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Sydney native Jonathan Boulet charms the audience at The Brew Exchange with his pummeling, percussion-filled set.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Sinister and driven by huge bass lines, the London-based post-punk band Savages, well, savages the Brooklyn Vegan Day Party at The Main.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Fader Fort attendees mellow out and sway ever-so-gently to the sweet, sweet psych-rock of Ducktails.
Credit Dave Lichterman for KEXP
Nice shades, dude. Jangly, organ-driven garage-rockers Allah-Las plays the KEXP showcase at Mellow Johnny's.
Credit Dave Lichterman for KEXP
Framed by racks of bicycles, Unknown Mortal Orchestra plays the KEXP showcase at Mellow Johnny's.
Credit Dave Lichterman for KEXP
Filled with a distorted urgency, Bleeding Rainbow bends notes and pummels the crowd at the KEXP showcase at Mellow Johnny's.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Arrayed in pink and blue hues, Sky Ferreira was a vision of neon electro-pop at The Fader Fort.
Credit Anthony Valadez for KCRW
Are you dancing? Aussie dance-rockers Atlas Genius play the KCRW showcase at Haven.
Credit Anthony Valadez for KCRW
Wrapped in cords, Toro y Moi plays the KCRW showcase at Haven.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Ruben Albarran, the singer for Cafe Tacvba, leads the band through one of its rhythm-heavy, disco- and rock-inspired songs.
Before our eyes were glued to stellar performances by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at our official SXSW showcase on Tuesday — not too mention rapper Le1f's amazing dance moves — we roamed the streets of Austin.
Yeah Yeah Yeah's Karen O lights up the night at Stubb's during NPR Music's SXSW showcase.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Nick Cave started his set with the Bad Seeds at Stubb's as the sun was going down. He told the crowd before it started that the first song would be a long one, so it would be dark by the time it ended.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Ruben Albarran, the singer for Cafe Tacvba, leads the band through one of its rhythm-heavy, disco- and rock-inspired songs.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Youth Lagoon, led by keyboard player and singer Trevor Powers, released its second album, Wondrous Bughouse, on March 5. The band played on the indoor stage at Stubb's in Austin, Texas.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Waxahatchee's Katie Crutchfield began her set at the indoor stage at Stubb's by strumming three songs alone on an electric guitar, before being joined by two band mates.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Karen O led the Yeah Yeah Yeahs through a set at Stubb's that included songs from the band's new album, Mosquito.
Credit Adam Kissick for NPR
Karen O led the Yeah Yeah Yeahs through a set at NPR Music's SXSW showcase at Stubb's in Austin, Texas that included songs from the band's new album, Mosquito.
For the All Songs Considered gang, the second day of the South By Southwest music festival was packed with familiar favorites and new discoveries. On the heels of NPR Music's SXSW Showcase at Stubb's, Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton, Stephen Thompson and Ann Powers once again huddled in their favorite Austin churchyard to discuss the standouts and surprises from the day.
Twin Horns Of Joy? Members of the band The Bottom Dollars play on the street in Austin, Texas, during the opening night of the South by Southwest music festival.
Listen to Stephen Thompson's conversation with Audie Cornish on All Things Considered by clicking the audio link.
The South by Southwest music festival kicked off Tuesday with the first of five straight nights of music overload: The clubs, makeshift music venues and front porches of Austin, Texas, were overrun with little-known discoveries-in-waiting and big names alike, as well as tens of thousands of fans who have flocked to the city in search of epiphanies.
What do Best Coast, Boba Fett, Beach Fossils and street yogis have in common? They were among the many artists and fans who came for the first day of South by Southwest. See a gallery of photos by Adam Kissick here and follow us on Flickr for much, much more.
The All Songs Considered gang has made their way to Austin, Texas for this year's South By Southwest music festival. The five day event, which showcases performances by over 1500 bands and artists, takes over the city, and this year officially starts one day earlier than in the past — Tuesday night.
It's that time of year again! All Songs Considered is headed on another musical trek to Austin for this year's South By Southwest festival. Before hitting the road we listened to songs from more than a thousand bands scheduled to play the festival, in search of some great new discoveries. On this edition of the show hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton, NPR Music editor Stephen Thompson and NPR Music critic Ann Powers come together to share some of what they found, and talk about the bands they're most excited to see.
There's a statement of intent in the sequence of an album's opening one-two punch. There's Harvey Milk's The Pleaser, a title reversal of set 'em up ("Down") and knock 'em down ("Get It Up & Get It On").
In a way, singer Julianna Barwick's ethereal voice and seemingly shapeless songs are a form of abstract art: colorful and curious, with lines that drift and flow in unexpected but beautiful directions. For her latest video, and a new song called "Offing," Barwick finds commonality in architect Philip Johnson's Glass House and a strange sculpture from artist Ken Price. Barwick performs alongside the sculpture for a live audience, filling the Glass House with layers of her sublime voice.
For a party-friendly metal-punk band like Kvelertak, "Spring fra Livet" sure is a curveball. The stomping, AC/DC-style intro? That's a party-starter. But 20 seconds in, there's a twangy, melodic riff that sounds like an Allman Brothers-indebted '90s alt-rock band, like Better Than Ezra or Toad the Wet Sprocket or maybe just the Empire Records soundtrack — if the Empire Records soundtrack were about to lay into a blast-beaten chorus. Respectfully, Kvelertak, just what is going on here?
Originally published on Wed March 6, 2013 11:03 am
Get some earplugs and a case of your favorite caffeinated beverage ready: The annual sensory-overload-joy-fest known as South by Southwest is almost here. Bob Boilen, Ann Powers, Stephen Thompson and I, along with a small army of other NPR Music peeps, will be there next week for the whole thing. Whether you'll be in Austin for the festival, or watching and listening on our website, we hope you'll join us for these events:
This week on All Songs Considered, hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton are joined by some familiar friends from the NPR Music team, who share their latest musical finds.
Bob starts things off with a brand-new track from the Floridian indie-rock band Surfer Blood. Its new album Pythons isn't out until June, but you can hear "Demon Dance" before anyone else right here.
After 10 years of gleefully dismantling genres and challenging audiences to submit to its avant-prog-jazz-drone-noise-whatever hypnosis, the New York City band Zs promptly dismantled itself last summer. Only founding member and saxophonist Sam Hillmer remains, joined now by guitarist Patrick Higgins and drummer Greg Fox (Guardian Alien, ex-Liturgy). So it's only fitting that Grain, the first taste of new Zs material, features unreleased leftovers of previous line-ups completely dismantled.
In "Escape Artist," the new video from Canadian pop duo The Zolas, the band plays around with audience expectations about race, culture and sexuality. As frontman Zach Gray sings about his mysterious alter ego, a group of kids kick around their neighborhood, playing basketball, chatting up girls and passing the hours. One of them clearly feels like an outsider.
Originally published on Fri February 22, 2013 3:39 pm
At some point, a long string of colorful adjectives doesn't accomplish much for any band. "Hypnogogic math-pop," "blackened uber-popadelica," "avant seapunk-rap" — it all gets a little silly. Metal, or at least the folks who describe it, often falls into this trap, present company included. Exhibit A: the second album from Richmond's Inter Arma. Sky Burial ingests several forms of metal, but the goal is demonstrable heft. Maybe you should just listen to its opening track first; it's called "The Survival Fires."
Whether you buy a $795 badge or show up with a little spare cash on hand, SXSW has something for you — and will expect you to stand in line at some point.
Originally published on Fri February 22, 2013 7:08 am
We get a lot of mail at NPR Music, and amid the Valentine's Day cards that got returned with no forwarding address is a slew of smart questions about how music fits into our lives — and, this week, how music fans could and should approach South by Southwest, the gigantic music festival held every March in Austin, Texas.
Laura Ann Klein writes: "How does a non-industry professional manage the big festivals like SXSW? Is it even possible for someone without a press badge to see the bigger names?"
I first saw Cat Martino at the best concert of my life. It was the summer of 2011 and Sufjan Stevens was performing at Celebrate Brooklyn. But within the spectacle -– a troupe of maybe a dozen performers on stage — was a singer and dancer named Cat Martino. I know that because a number of my friends at the show knew Cat and were screaming her name at the top of their lungs.
This member of Middle Brother had someone send an MP3 to All Songs Considered a couple years back, and now look at him: He's on the NPR Music website again.
Originally published on Sat February 23, 2013 4:08 pm
Every year around this time, all four members of the All Songs Considered roundtable gang (Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton, Ann Powers and me) each dredge through more than 1,000 MP3s by bands playing the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas. We base our coverage and festival schedules on the music we've researched in advance — and have found some of our favorite artists, like Kishi Bashi in 2012, as part of these blind pre-fest taste tests — and this year, we want to be sure we're considering yours.
Guitarist and singer Chris Porterfield has done a lot of soul searching since his previous band, DeYarmond Edison, broke up in 2006. Other guys in the group went on to start their own projects — Justin Vernon formed Bon Iver, while some of the other members formed Megafaun. Porterfield, meanwhile, hung back in his native Milwaukee and took a job as a student union administrator at Marquette Univeristy.
